Sustainable Farming Scheme: regulatory baseline: invasive non-native species (SMR 15) (2026)

The aim of these requirements is to protect farmland from the spread of Invasive Non-Native Plant Species (INNS) in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting Order) 2019.

Do not cause: 

• any new or existing INNS plant species to spread into, or within, or from any area on your land

The following are non-exhaustive lists of the species most likely to be found on farmland in Wales.

Listed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Name and Latin name

• Japanese knotweed: Reynoutria japonica (previously Fallopia japonica)
• Cotoneaster (all species): Cotoneaster spp.
• Montbretia: Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
• Variegated yellow archangel: Lamiastrum galeobdolon subsp argentatum
• Rhododendron (and hybrids): Rhododendron ponticum
• Japanese rose: Rosa rugosa
• Hottentot fig: Carpobrutus edulis
• Australian swamp stonecrop: Crassula helmsii
• Waterweed: Elodea spp
• Water fern: Azolla filiculoides

Subject to the requirements of the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019

Name and Latin name

• Himalayan balsam: Impatiens glandulifera
• Giant hogweed: Heracleum mantegazzianum
• American skunk cabbage: Lysichiton americanus
• Chilean rhubarb: Gunnera tinctoria
• Floating pennywort: Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
• Parrots feather: Myriophyllum aquaticum
• Curly waterweed: Lagarosiphon major
• Nuttall’s waterweed: Elodea nuttallii

• check whether any new or existing INNS plant species have spread into, or within, or from any area of the land. Take reasonable steps to prevent the spread of new or existing invasive non-native species (INNS) into, or within, or from any area of your land
• new or existing invasive non-native plant species have been caused to spread into, or within, or from any area of your land

• check farmland to identify if INNS are present
• if INNS are found on farmland, take reasonable steps to manage and control the spread
• do not plant INNS on farmland as you may be committing an offence

Find out more about INNS, visit:

• non-native species: ID sheets (on nonnativespecies.org)
• management of non-native species (on nonnativespecies.org)
• help identify different INNS and where they have been recorded in Wales (on nbnatlas.org) 

Guidance on controlling specific plant species:

• Japanese knotweed
• Himalayan balsam
• Giant hogweed

See Sustainable Farming Scheme: regulatory baseline: useful contacts (2026).